Correlation of microRNAs responding to high dose γ-irradiation with predicted target mRNAs in HeLa cells using microarray analyses

An increasing data indicates that altered microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the radiation-induced DNA damage response. However, a correlation of mRNA and miRNA profiles across the entire genome and in response to irradiation has not been thoroughly assessed. We analyzed miRNA microarray data collected from HeLa cells after ionizing radiation (IR), quantified the expression profiles of mRNAs and performed comparative analysis of the data sets using target prediction algorithms, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, pathway analysis, and gene network construction. The results showed that the altered miRNAs were involved in regulation of various cellular functions. miRNA-gene network analyses revealed that miR-186, miR-106b, miR-15a/b, CCND1 and CDK6 played vital role in the cellular radiation response. Using qRT-PCR, we confirmed that twenty-two miRNAs showed differential expression in HeLa cells treated with IR and some of these miRNAs affected cell cycle progression. This study demonstrated that miRNAs influence gene expression in the entire genome during the cellular radiation response and suggested vital pathways for further research.